GAME THREAD: AL: LA ANGELS (56-40) at MINNESOTA (51-46)

AL: LA ANGELS (56-40) at MINNESOTA (51-46)

<h3>Angels look to avoid series sweep</h3>

<div class="pre">LA Angels (56-40) at Minnesota (51-46) 2:10 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Hoping to end an uncharacteristic losingstretch, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim look to salvage awin in their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins onSunday.


Since defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 24 to go aseason-best 22 games over .500 (49-27), the Angels have lost 13of their last 20 games. They have lost seven games off aneight-game lead they owned over Seattle in the American LeagueWest Division.


The Angels are in danger of being swept in Minnesota for thefirst time since June 3-5, 1996.


To halt the slide, the Angels will recall Joe Saunders (3-0,2.97 ERA) from the minors in time to start in place of ErvinSantana, who was sent down to the minors on Wednesday. He hasmade five starts this season with Anaheim, winning the lastfour.


The lefthander last started June 22, when he permitted four runsover six innings but did not receive a decision againstPittsburgh.


Saunders never has faced Minnesota.


Minnesota will go for the series sweep with Matt Garza (1-1,0.00), who is coming off the most impressive start of theseason, yielding one unearned run over seven innings to themajor's highest-scoring offense - the Detroit Tigers - but didnot get any run support from his offense in a 1-0 loss.

The 23-year-old righthander never has faced the Angels.

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS

LA ANGELS MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Chone Figgins 3B .320 1 30 Jason Bartlett SS .264 3 25
Orlando Cabrera SS .311 5 54 Jeff Cirillo DH .273 2 20
Vladimir Guerrero RF .323 14 78 Joe Mauer C .306 5 43
Garret Anderson DH .296 3 19 Justin Morneau 1B .291 26 81
Casey Kotchman 1B .283 9 40 Torii Hunter CF .300 20 72
Maicer Izturis 2B .248 1 17 Jason Kubel LF .255 8 40
Mike Napoli C .254 8 29 Darnell Mcdonald RF .000 0 0
Robb Quinlan LF .269 3 15 Luis Rodriguez 3B .181 2 7
Nathan Haynes CF .250 0 0 Nick Punto 2B .213 1 20

Joe Saunders LHP (3-0, 2.97) Matt Garza RHP (1-1, 0.00)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS (3-0, 2.97)
MIN - MATT GARZA (1-1, 0.00)

UMPIRES: HP - GREG GIBSON
1B - LARRY VANOVER
2B - TONY RANDAZZO
3B - CHARLIE RELIFORD

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS AND MIKE NAPOLI
MIN - MATT GARZA AND JOE MAUER

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.320, 1 HR, 30 RBI)
O CABRERA (.311, 5 HR, 54 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.323, 14 HR, 78 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO MAICER IZTURIS SCORED ORLANDO CABRERA.

SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M IZTURIS ON FIRST, C KOTCHMAN ON SECOND, G
ANDERSON ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 1
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M NAPOLI (.254, 8 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.264, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
J CIRILLO (.273, 2 HR, 20 RBI)
J MAUER (.306, 5 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
O Cabrera ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
G Anderson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .248
M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .253
R Quinlan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 5 1 2 1 2 0 4

BATTING: RBI - M Izturis (18). 2-out RBI - M Izturis. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - M Napoli 2. Team LOB - 3.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Cirillo dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
D McDonald rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.97

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0.56

Pitches-strikes: M Garza 33-20. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 0-3. Batters
faced: M Garza 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R QUINLAN (.269, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
N HAYNES (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C FIGGINS (.319, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
O Cabrera ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
G Anderson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .248
M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .253
R Quinlan lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
N Haynes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250

Totals 5 1 2 1 2 0 4

BATTING: RBI - M Izturis (18). 2-out RBI - M Izturis. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - M Napoli 2. Team LOB - 3.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
D McDonald rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.87

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 0.56

Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 11-9; M Garza 33-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Saunders 1-2; M Garza 0-3. Batters faced: J Saunders 3; M Garza 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHONE FIGGINS SCORED NATHAN HAYNES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C FIGGINS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 2
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: O CABRERA (.313, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 2 3 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.291, 26 HR, 81 RBI)
T HUNTER (.300, 20 HR, 72 RBI)
J KUBEL (.255, 8 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (2) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .321
O Cabrera ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .312
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
G Anderson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .248
M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .253
R Quinlan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
N Haynes cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 9 2 3 2 2 0 5

BATTING: RBI - M Izturis (18), C Figgins (31). 2-out RBI - M Izturis. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Napoli 2. Team LOB - 3.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
D McDonald rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (19, throw). Outfield assists - D McDonald (C
Figgins at 2nd base). DP: 1 (D McDonald-J Bartlett-L Rodriguez).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 11 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.87

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 3 2 1 2 0 0 0.53

Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 11-9; M Garza 51-32. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Saunders 1-2; M Garza 0-5. Batters faced: J Saunders 3; M Garza 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 2 3 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 1 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: V GUERRERO (.322, 0-FOR-1)
G ANDERSON (.300, 1-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.283, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (2) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .321
O Cabrera ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .312
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .322
G Anderson dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .248
M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .253
R Quinlan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
N Haynes cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 9 2 3 2 2 0 5

BATTING: RBI - M Izturis (18), C Figgins (31). 2-out RBI - M Izturis. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Napoli 2. Team LOB - 3.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
D McDonald rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (19, throw). Outfield assists - D McDonald (C
Figgins at 2nd base). DP: 1 (D McDonald-J Bartlett-L Rodriguez).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 11 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.78

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 3 2 1 2 0 0 0.53

Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 25-18; M Garza 51-32. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Saunders 2-2; M Garza 0-5. Batters faced: J Saunders 7; M Garza 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY GARRET ANDERSON (4) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF MATT GARZA.
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.283, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 3 4 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 1 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L RODRIGUEZ (.181, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
N PUNTO (.213, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (3) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .321
O Cabrera ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .312
V Guerrero rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
G Anderson dh 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .304
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
M Izturis 2b 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .246
M Napoli c 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .253
R Quinlan lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
N Haynes cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 13 3 4 3 2 0 5

BATTING: HR - G Anderson (4, 3rd inning off M Garza 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M
Izturis (18), C Figgins (31), G Anderson (20). 2-out RBI - M Izturis. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Napoli 2. Team LOB - 3.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
D McDonald rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .181
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (19, throw). Outfield assists - D McDonald (C
Figgins at 2nd base). DP: 1 (D McDonald-J Bartlett-L Rodriguez).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 111 -- 3
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.78

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 3 4 3 2 2 0 1 1.00

Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 25-18; M Garza 65-42. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Saunders 2-2; M Garza 2-6. Batters faced: J Saunders 7; M Garza 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JEFF CIRILLO SCORED LUIS RODRIGUEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BARTLETT ON FIRST, N PUNTO ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 3
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.304, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 3 4 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 1 4 1 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: M NAPOLI (.253, 0-FOR-1)
R QUINLAN (.266, 0-FOR-1)
N HAYNES (.240, 0-FOR-1)</div>